Lychee

Litchi chinensis

Family: Sapindaceae

Tree Fruit
Full Sun

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Special populations

Young children, especially undernourished children and children who had no evening meal (CDC EID 2018, citing Shrivastava et al.). CDC MMWR 2015 outbreak patients were mainly children aged 1-5 years.

Human edibility

Only some parts are edible

Edible parts

aril (the pulp) of ripe fruit

Hazardous parts

seed, aril of semiripe (not fully ripe) fruit - higher toxin level than ripe aril

Preparation

none stated (UF/IFAS: best consumed fresh as soon after harvest as possible)

Hazard type

hypoglycin A (HGA), methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), hypoglycemic encephalopathy

Hazard route

ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA has no page for this plant, and no other source we use covers it. That is not a statement that it is safe. Keep dogs, cats and horses from eating it.

ASPCA has no page for this plant, and no other source we use covers it. That is not a statement that it is safe. Keep dogs, cats and horses from eating it. For the separate hazard to people, see the hazard information below.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: UF/IFAS MG051 gives no zone number, only damage temperatures: young trees damaged 28-32°F; mature trees suffer extensive damage or death at 24-25°F if exposed several hours.
Mature size: May grow to 40 ft (UF/IFAS MG051).
Where it comes from: Southern China; grown in Florida and other frost-free/near-frost-free regions.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon